Self Smarts refers to the ability to understand your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. People who enjoy using their Self Smarts may like to set and work toward goals; work alone; reflect on their own thoughts and feelings; think about the future; or keep a diary or write in a journal.

Our Diversity and Kinship Literacy Play booklet includes a list of children’s picture books whose main characters model one or more character strengths related to the human virtues of wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). The booklet also includes suggestions for story-related activities aimed at encouraging children to reflect on their own positive traits. 

Health literacy refers to the ability to read, understand, and act on health-related information. Access to developmentally appropriate literature on physical illness, psychological disorders, and psychosocial issues may help children to take a more active role in safeguarding their health, promoting their well-being, and enhancing their sensitivity and responsiveness to others. The Health Literacy Play initiative includes children’s books published by Magination Press, an imprint of the American Psychological Association.

Informed by Janoff-Bulman’s cognitive theory of traumatic stress, BU Bibliotek identifies picture books that may help to begin restoring children’s assumptions about the world’s safety and predictability, others’ benevolence, and the self’s competence following exposure to a traumatic event.